Burma: Sen. Jim Webb Meets President, Scraps NLD Talks

US senator Jim Webb held talks with Burmese President Thein Sein, but cancelled his planned meeting yesterday with National League for Democracy’s patron Tin Oo.

The NLD’s spokesperson Nyan Win said the meeting was cancelled due to the senator’s tight schedule.

On Tuesday, Webb visited Pegu division’s capital and observed negotiations between the Karen National Union and government representatives.

State newspapers reported that Webb met with Burmese President Thein Sein in Naypyidaw on 9 April and talked about boosting ties between the two countries and increasing multi-sector cooperation. They discussed the country’s reform process and on-going negotiations with armed ethnic minority groups.

Webb is set to hold a press conference at the US embassy in Rangoon today.

The senator hailing from Virginia has a storied recent history with Burma. He helped secure the release of John Yettaw, an American citizen who was arrested for breaking into opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s house, in 2009.

During the trip Webb met with the country’s military leaders and Suu Kyi, which many insiders believe might have kick started the US’s nascent engagement with the cloistered nation.

We need your help!

We are a news organization that operates entirely thanks to volunteers and donations to meet our operating costs. We don't like to have popups like this here, but your funding is essentialto making sure that Eurasia Review continues to operate.

Your Help Is Needed

Eurasia Review operates entirely thanks to volunteers and donations to meet our operating costs. We don't like to have popups like this, but your funding is essentialto making sure that Eurasia Review continues to operate.